The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has announced plans to prosecute illegal revenue collectors who have been harassing residents and government officials within the city.
AMAC Chairman Christopher Maikalangu made this declaration during a press conference in Abuja aimed at educating residents about irregularities in the council’s revenue collection processes.
Maikalangu revealed that AMAC has designated specific areas for legitimate revenue collection.
“We will henceforth situate our staff in designated and organized centers, such as the University of Abuja area, Nyanya, and Dei Dei axis to professionally coordinate the collection of mobile adverts revenues for the council,” he stated.
The chairman expressed concern over reports of revenue collectors overstepping their boundaries.
“It has been observed that some of our revenue collectors are collecting revenues on street naming/numbering and mobile advertisement from unsuspecting Nigerians within the city centre,” Maikalangu said.
He added, “Some of them have chased and collected number plates of vehicles of the presidency, National Assembly, embassies, as well as ministries, departments and agencies.”
To address these issues, AMAC has implemented several measures. Maikalangu emphasized, “Henceforth, all revenue collectors in charge of street naming/house numbering and mobile advertisement should kindly desist and withdraw from the Federal Capital City and concentrate more on the satellite towns and other communities within the council.”
The chairman urged residents to report harassment by revenue collectors.
He warned unauthorized collectors, “If you are caught, you will be treated as a criminal. I repeat you will be treated as a criminal,”
Maikalangu added, “Our team of security agencies will commence routine checks in collaboration with our task force to arrest anyone claiming to be AMAC staff on the road.”
AMAC has also established a mobile court to swiftly prosecute offenders. The council reserves the right to revoke licenses of revenue collectors who disregard these directives.
Addressing the issue of haulage collection, Maikalangu clarified that this falls under the purview of the FCT Administration’s Transport Secretariat, not AMAC. He promised to discuss the matter with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to resolve ongoing problems.
While emphasizing the importance of these measures in bringing sanity to revenue collection processes, Maikalangu also urged residents to fulfill their tax obligations to AMAC.
“We promise to inform you of every step we take and urge you to keep faith with us,” he said
